McCarthy's Son May Not Have Had Autism After All

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After years of speaking out about her son’s autism — and against childhood immunizations — Jenny McCarthy is reversing her position.

After years of speaking publicly about her belief that MMR shots (immunization for measles, mumps, and rubella) caused her son to suffer from autism, Jenny McCarthy now faces the reality that her 7-year-old son Evan — who no longer shows any signs of autism — may likely have lived with completely different illness.

A new article in Time magazine — which Jenny was interviewed for — suggests Evan suffers from Landau-Kleffner syndrome, “a rare childhood neurological disorder that can also result in speech impairment and possible long-term neurological damage.”

Many applaud Jenny, who has never stopped fighting to help her son since his autism diagnosis in 2005. Others, like the Center of Disease Control, say her claims about immunizations make her “a menace to public health.”

Jenny talks about her son’s progress saying, “Evan couldn’t talk — now he talks. Evan couldn’t make eye contact — now he makes eye contact. Evan was anti-social — now he makes friends. It was amazing to watch … when something didn’t work for Evan, I didn’t stop. I stopped that treatment, but I didn’t stop.”

And she is also reversing her initial position that the MMR shots caused Evan’s autism. Jenny now says she wants vaccinations better researched — rather than getting rid of them altogether, as she previously promoted. And though her son may never have had autism, Jenny insists, “I’ll continue to be the voice” of the disorder.

“Evan couldn’t talk — now he talks. Evan couldn’t make eye contact — now he makes eye contact. Evan was anti-social — now he makes friends. It was amazing to watch … when something didn’t work for Evan, I didn’t stop. I stopped that treatment, but I didn’t stop.”

She means asocial. She's describing most people with a diagnosis of an ASD (barring the speech problems), and from what I've seen, people with an ASD can be just as happy as their brethren without one.

It's impossible to suddenly be able to make eye contact and make lots of friends if you've had trouble doing that before (if you're on the spectrum). Even if an autistic kid could do it eventually, they would have to learn it step by step, or be taught by their parents, in social skills groups, etc. It wouldn't be a natural process, like it is for neurotypicals.

MathGirl,

I meant that she's saying that the symptoms of an ASD are somehow "bad", and he stopped displaying them and went to "good".

asocial - social
no eye contact - eye contact
prefers solitude - makes friends

Neither side above is better than the other.

Jenny insists, “I’ll continue to be the voice” of the disorder.

Please, Jenny, don't do us any favors...hit the showers kid, you've done enough damage...

Please, Jenny, don't do us any favors...hit the showers kid, you've done enough damage...

“Evan couldn’t talk — now he talks. Evan couldn’t make eye contact — now he makes eye contact"

This phrase intrigues me . Why is Evan never heard or seen in public. If my child had a miraculus improvement from his ASD and I was the 'unofficial spokes person for an ASD cure' with books and a charity, i'd have my son as the evidence. Rather than the book tours and verbal sparring in a public arena, namely chat shows. I have a sad feeling she is front and centre not her childs needs. Harsh, maybe?

I raise awareness in my own way in my own community, by daily life of meeting people and introducing my 5yr old ASD son. He's a happy little kid who gets on with life his way, enjoys meeting people and attempts talk and eye contact after prompting/coaching. The main point we are both learning, understanding and accepting ASD.

Best wishes to all